Strategic drought risk management – 8 golden rules

New research led by the Environmental Change Institute’s Paul Sayers provides guidance for water managers in a changing climate.

Major droughts are ever-present threat: one set to increase with climate change and rising water-demand. Historically droughts have been responded to ‘as they happen’ leading to incremental shifts in approach as lessons are learnt. Given the significance of the challenge now faced, this heuristic approach is no longer fit-for-purpose and a new approach is required.

The framework encourages a focus on long-term outcomes (for people, ecosystems and economies) and views drought as a water-related risk, not simply a hazard. SDRM is presented as a multi-scale endeavour, providing both local and regional solutions whilst addressing short and long-term challenges. It seeks to implement a diverse portfolio of measures during non-drought conditions as well in the run-up to, during and after a drought event whist recognising the critical interdependences between human systems and freshwater ecosystems.